Sooners’ stud defender just let everyone know he wants to come back for one more season, but he may not be able to
The Sooners would love to have linebacker Owen Heinecke back.
One of the best stories for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2025, outside of being a playoff team after barely making a bowl game, has to be the underrated players who made a name for themselves. Linebacker Owen Heinecke is one of those guys, and maybe one of the most underrated players in the SEC.
The former lacrosse player moved to Norman, Oklahoma, to play football after playing lacrosse at Ohio State. He’s now one of the key cogs in the Sooners’ elite defense. However, Oklahoma is only getting one great year out of him, as this last season is when it really found out how good Heinecke was.
And, because of NCAA eligibility rules, his last game may be against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Friday. If it were up to him, Heinecke would be back for another season.
Sooners linebacker Owen Heinecke is currently appealing NCAA
“It’s been kind of a complicated process,” Heinecke said on Sunday. “Currently in an appeal process with the NCAA, hoping to hear back somewhat soon. As you mentioned, they’re counting my year with Ohio State lacrosse as a year towards overall eligibility.
“And I think the NCAA is kind of cracking down on sixth years. So as of right now, I don’t know if I got the granted the extra year. I would heavily consider it. I love Oklahoma, and this has really been my first year playing, so I would love another year to go at it.”
Heinecke had a heck of a season. He didn’t start most of the year, but he managed to rack up 67 tackles, two sacks, and ten tackles for loss on a defense that’s loaded with playmakers. He’s a huge reason the Sooners have the depth they have, as he, Kobie McKinzie, Kip Lewis, and Sammy Omosigho have held down the LB spots.
If he can be granted another season, that’s a position group the Sooners won’t have to worry about much with the other seniors they will have leaving. Heinecke is wanted back in Norman next season, and the Sooners want him back.
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